Still the wall of white descends, and dangerous cold with it. Sales needed to get through the winter; subscribers and shares, too.

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

That was yesterday. There's no blue in the sky today; it's all the same white as the ground, and the snow is still coming down. Outside the window, there are crows all around the feeder, and one massive raven nearly beak-deep in a flattened area of snow, busy working at one of the dogs' abandoned marrow bones.

Despite the snow, yesterday was not a good day; today isn't starting out especially auspiciously, either. Part of it is the bitter cold and its effects on our bodies; it's much colder now than two days ago, and will be dropping down below zero the next several nights. Part of it is this time of year, with so many losses to mark and mourn. One was eleven days ago; one was yesterday; two others are today. Cricket, who sees things we cannot, has been howling off and on for the last couple of weeks, chasing things less substantial even than shadows. And still the wall of white descends, and a dangerous cold with it.

As I've said, the snow is a gift, yes, but still no rest or respite from what's looming, particularly on the medical front. I never have a moment's peace from that, so holiday season or no, shares are still much needed and much appreciated. We also have a new avalanche of medical expenses waiting for us on the other side of the new year, beginning next Thursday, and that's on top of the five figures' worth remaining from the year just past. I posted Wings's newest works the other day, a return to an older series; this grouping consists of six pieces, all collected here. For purposes of sharing, here are all the regular links:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds) (and if you subscribe today you won't be billed until January 1st for December);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

As I also said yesterday, somehow, the heavy snow seems fitting, a gentle benediction for the spirits of those who walked on on these days between two and ten years ago now. Four people, family and friends. Midwinter, indeed. But our path goes through the snow, not beyond it, and we have to make it through a long hard winter now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.